Do you keep crucial medical devices at home for safety purposes?
The COVID-19 virus infects humans as well as animals such as camels, cats, and bats. In humans, the infection frequently causes the common cold, laryngitis, and pneumonia, and it may also affect the sensory system. With a sudden increase in COVID-19 positive cases all over the world, pharmacies and online retailers are struggling to keep up with the demand for masks, hand sanitizers, and other hygiene products. This is due to people stockpiling masks, hand sanitizers, and other medical devices in order to protect themselves from the virus.
Home Treatment
A COVID-19 detection test is the simplest way to determine if you have the disease. If the results of the tests are positive, you should contact your doctor right away. The majority of people who come into contact with the COVID-19 virus will only get a minor infection and will be able to recover at home with certain medical devices. Rest, plenty of fluids, breathing exercises, and over-the-counter medications are all options for symptom relief at home.
Pedialyte, powdered oral rehydration salts, and sports beverages all contain electrolytes that can help you stay hydrated. When you’re dehydrated, one of the best ways to stay hydrated is to drink coconut water. Soups are also easy to drink and digest when you are dehydrated.
Important Vitals and Readings that Need to be Kept in Check
Testing your vital signs (temperature, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels) while on COVID-19 home care with medical devices allows you to monitor your situation and alert the doctor if your condition worsens. In such cases, immediate medical attention is required.
A pharmacy can supply different medical devices such as thermometers and pulse oximeters for use at home to monitor body temperature, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate. Such medical devices are essential for effective home care. Aside from these, you can keep a variety of other medical devices at home. Let’s take a closer look at how these medical devices work and how you can use them at home.
Medical Equipment to be Kept at Home
The following are some of the most popular medical devices that can help you fight the coronavirus at home:
Pulse Oximeter
An oximeter is a medical device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood as well as the rate of the heartbeat. They are especially beneficial for COVID-19 patients who have breathing problems due to low oxygen levels. Make sure your hands are at room temperature before using this device. Rub your hands together to warm them up if they aren’t. Sit down and relax before inserting your finger into the oximeter.
The pulse oximeter should be worn on your index finger. You will see the beat waves on the oximeter screen on your finger while the pulse oximeter takes your reading. The normal range of pulse oximeter readings is 95 to 100%. Values less than 90% are considered low and indicate the need for more oxygen.
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Incentive Spirometer
When using an incentive spirometer, you breathe in air through a tube connected to a wide air column containing a piston or ball. As you breathe in, the piston or ball inside the column expands. The amount of air you inhaled is indicated by the height of the piston or ball. This exercise may cause dizziness if you take a deep breath in. If you feel dizzy or like you’re about to pass out, stop exercising and rest. You’d only be able to lift the piston or ball a few inches up the shaft at first. If you keep using the spirometer, you should be able to take in more air and resume normal breathing.
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Oxygen Cylinder
Compacted oxygen and clinical air chambers are refillable containers that store oxygen and clinical gases in a non-fluid state at high gaseous pressure. They have a valve and an oxygen level controller, which is a simple knob that controls the flow of oxygen. These cylinders are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from small mobile units to larger 10L containers, depending on the application. The cylinders come in standard sizes and are equipped with controllers and fittings that meet global standards.
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Patient Monitor Multi-parametric
These are medical devices that continuously measure, calculate, and display physiological parameters on patients. They can be simple, measuring only one or two vital signs, or complex, measuring several parameters and used in critical care units and specialised surgeries for critically ill patients. There are battery-powered and electrically powered portable models at the bedside. The instruments contain patient wires, monitors, and adapters that are configured to alert physicians about changes in a patient based on the parameters to be monitored (e.g., ECG, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and respiratory gas concentrations).
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Blood Glucose Monitors
People with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes must have their blood sugar levels checked on a regular basis. This is simple to do at home with the help of a blood glucose monitor. Individuals with diabetes can immediately report any extreme fluctuations in glucose levels in their bloodstream to their doctor in this manner, and remedial medical care can be delivered as soon as possible.
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Blood Pressure Monitors
This apparatus is very useful for people who have high blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension), as they are advised to check their blood pressure on a daily basis and report it to their doctors. It also aids in determining the direct effect of prescription medication in standardising an individual’s blood pressure. A person’s normal blood pressure ranges from 110/70 to 120/80.
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Pedometers And Weighing Scales
A pedometer is a simple device that displays the number of steps you’ve taken as well as the percentage of calories burned during that activity. A weighing scale measures your body weight and is extremely useful because sudden changes in mass can indicate serious underlying conditions such as hormonal imbalance or irregular lipid metabolism. A BMI (Body Mass Index) of 18.5 to 24.9 indicates a healthy body weight.
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Thermometers
This basic medical device is essential in every home, especially during the monsoon and winter, when there is a fever, cold, and flu epidemic. The thermometer can tell you if your body temperature is higher or lower than normal, which can help you decide on the best course of treatment and ensure a quick recovery. The normal body temperature ranges from 970F to 990F (360C to 37.50C).
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When to Seek Emergency Medical Treatment
COVID-19 cases can begin mildly and progress to more serious side effects between the fifth and tenth day of infection, with symptoms becoming more severe in the evenings. Knowing how to check your vital signs at home with appropriate medical devices and which severe side effects to be aware of will assist you in determining whether you need to visit an emergency clinic. A pulse oximeter reading of 90 percent immersion of hemoglobin or less is a medical emergency that should be treated at a clinic.